A final amendment to the American Health Care Act was introduced Thursday night by the authors of the legislation, a last-minute attempt to win conservatives over by requiring states to define what services insurers must offer enrollees.
Here's what's in the amendment, which will be voted on in the Rules Committee tomorrow before the bill heads to the House floor for a final vote:
- Beginning in 2018, states will determine essential health benefits. There are currently 10 federal ones under Obamacare, which apply to the individual and small group markets.
- The repeal of the Medicare payroll tax on high earners would be delayed until 2023.
- The original bill's Patient and State Stability Fund would get an extra $15 billion to be used for maternity coverage and newborn care, as well as mental health and substance abuse disorder treatment.